AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- TITLE FRAUD PREVENTION ACT (Provides measures to prevent title fraud by authorizing the recorder of deeds to require the production of a government-issued photographic identification card before recording a deed or certain other instruments.)

S2956

2026 -- S 2956
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LC005519
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- TITLE FRAUD PREVENTION ACT

Introduced By:
Senators E Morgan, Raptakis, Rogers, Dimitri, Gu, Urso, Thompson,
Paolino, Ciccone, and Burke

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 34 of the General Laws entitled "PROPERTY" is hereby amended by
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adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 13.3
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TITLE FRAUD PREVENTION ACT
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34-13.3-1. Short title.

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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Title Fraud Prevention Act."
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34-13.3-2. Definitions.

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As used in this chapter:
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(1) "Instrument" means any deed, mortgage, assignment, discharge, lien, encumbrance,
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memorandum, notice, affidavit, contract, or other document that purports to convey, transfer,
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encumber, establish, or affect title to real property.
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(2) "Presenter" means an individual who delivers an instrument to a city or town clerk for
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recording.
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(3) "Trusted submitter" means:
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(i) An attorney licensed to practice law in this state;
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(ii) A title insurance company authorized to transact business in this state;
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(iii) A financial institution authorized to transact business in this state; or
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(iv) An authorized agent of any such person or entity.
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34-13.3-3. Identity verification required for certain recordings.

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(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when an instrument is presented for
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recording by a presenter who is not a trusted submitter, the city or town clerk acting as recorder of
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deeds shall require the presenter to produce a valid government-issued photographic identification
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card prior to recording the instrument.
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(b) The clerk shall:
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(1) Record the name and address of the presenter as it appears on the identification card;
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and
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(2) Maintain such information in a record associated with the instrument number or book
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and page of the recorded document.
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(c) If the instrument is submitted electronically by a presenter who is not a trusted
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submitter, the presenter shall submit a copy of a government-issued photographic identification
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card. The presenter may redact all information except name, address, and photograph.
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(d) A clerk shall refuse to record an instrument if:
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(1) The presenter fails to provide identification as required by this section; or
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(2) The name appearing on the identification does not match the name of the grantor or
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conveying party appearing in the instrument.
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(e) The identity verification record created pursuant to this section shall not be posted on
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any publicly accessible internet website but shall constitute a public record subject to chapter 2 of
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title 38, except that any redacted information shall remain confidential.
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(f) No city, town, clerk, or employee thereof shall incur civil liability for requiring
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identification or for refusing to record an instrument in good faith compliance with this chapter.
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34-13.3-4. Fraudulent instruments -- Expedited quiet title procedure.

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(a) Any person claiming to be the lawful owner of an interest in real property that is subject
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to a recorded instrument alleged to be false, forged, fictitious, or fraudulent may file a verified
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complaint in the superior court seeking expedited relief.
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(b) Upon filing, the court shall:
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(1) Schedule a hearing not fewer than five (5) days nor more than twenty (20) days from
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service of notice; and
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(2) Permit service consistent with the Rhode Island rules of civil procedure.
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(c) If the court finds that the instrument is materially false, forged, fictitious, or fraudulent
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and unsupported by any lawful basis, the court shall:
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(1) Declare the instrument void ab initio;
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(2) Order the removal of the cloud on title;
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(3) Direct the city or town clerk to record and cross-index the court’s order; and

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(4) Authorize the clerk to conspicuously mark the first page of the original recorded
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instrument with the following statement:
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"THIS INSTRUMENT HAS BEEN DECLARED VOID BY ORDER OF THE RHODE
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ISLAND SUPERIOR COURT. "
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(d) The court may additionally:
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(1) Award reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs to the prevailing party;
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(2) Issue injunctive relief, including ejectment where appropriate;
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(3) Impose a civil penalty not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a frivolous or
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malicious filing;
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(4) Enter a pre-filing injunction against any person found to have repeatedly recorded
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fraudulent instruments.
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(e) The remedies provided in this section shall be in addition to any other remedies
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available at law or in equity, including those under § 34-16-1.
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SECTION 2. Chapter 34-16 of the General Laws entitled "Quieting Title" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following section:
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34-16-16. Expedited action for fraudulent conveyance.

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The procedure set forth in § 34-13.3-4 shall constitute an expedited method of quieting title
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where fraud is alleged. Nothing herein shall limit the court’s authority under this chapter.
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SECTION 3. Chapter 42-30.1 of the General Laws entitled "Uniform Law on Notarial
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Acts" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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42-30.1-25. Identity verification for electronic submissions.

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A recorder may require identity verification consistent with chapter 13.3 of title 34 prior to
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accepting an electronic document for recording, except where submitted by a trusted submitter.
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SECTION 4. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027, and shall apply to instruments
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presented for recording on or after that date.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- TITLE FRAUD PREVENTION ACT
***
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This act would provide measures to prevent title fraud by authorizing the recorder of deeds
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to require the production of a government-issued photographic identification card before recording
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a deed or certain other instruments and providing for a separate cause of action to quiet title after
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an attempted fraudulent conveyance.
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This act would take effect on January 1, 2027, and would apply to instruments presented
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for recording on or after that date.
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